Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of serotonin receptor modulators and other central nervous system (CNS) active compounds. Its structure serves as a building block for creating indole-based bioactive molecules. Commonly employed in medicinal chemistry for structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies due to the presence of halogen substituents that allow further functionalization via cross-coupling reactions like Suzuki or Buchwald-Hartwig. Also utilized in the preparation of fluorescent probes and imaging agents owing to the indole core’s favorable photophysical properties.